W. David Wakefield

As a founding member of the Department of Child and Adolescent Development, I have been committed to expanding students’ engagement with evidence-based practices that inform the developmental trajectories of children, adolescents, and young adults. My teaching, mentorship, and service emphasize the integration of research and practice to prepare students for meaningful careers and advanced study in education, health, and human development.

My research and scholarship have focused on the development of ethnic identity among ethnic minority adolescents and young adults, with particular attention to how experiences of racial discrimination and racial microaggressions shape psychological well-being, identity formation, and developmental outcomes. Through this work, I seek to contribute to a deeper understanding of the social and cultural contexts that influence youth development.

As a multiracial (Black/White) faculty member and the first person in my family to earn a doctorate, I am deeply committed to fostering access, mentorship, and academic pathways that support undergraduate students, particularly those from historically underrepresented backgrounds, in pursuing graduate and professional education.

Ph.D. Educational Psychology - Emphasis in Child and Adolescent Development 1999, University of California, Santa Barbara
M.A. Educational Psychology 1997, University of California, Santa Barbara
B.A. Psychology and Social Welfare with Minor in Education 1993, University of California, Berkeley

Emerging Adulthood

Identity Development

Ethnic identity and socialization of children and adolescents

Mentoring